DASON, a South Korean startup specializing in medical-grade materials and medical device development, announced on August 6 that it has been selected for the TIPS (Tech Incubator Program for Startup) R&D general track, a private-investment-led technology startup support program operated by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
Through this selection, DASON will receive 800 million won (approximately USD 600,000) in research and development funding over two years, and gain the opportunity to participate in non-R&D programs including commercialization support and overseas marketing with a budget of up to 300 million won (approximately USD 225,000).
In June, DASON secured investment from the Jeju Early-Stage Startup Development Fund, jointly managed by the Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (CCEI) Jeju branch and MYSocialCompany. The TIPS selection was made on the recommendation of CCEI Jeju. The Jeju Early-Stage Startup Development Fund was established with 3.5 billion won (approximately USD 2.6 million) in total capital, with participation from Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Korea Fund of Funds, and Kakao as limited partners.
DASON is a medical device startup with commercialization capabilities spanning from material development to manufacturing, quality control, and regulatory approval, focusing on medical-grade silicone and wound dressing materials. Through this TIPS project, the company plans to develop a self-moisture-regulating wound dressing that combines silicone material employing chemical micropore control technology with hydrocolloid absorbent material.
The wound dressing DASON is developing is designed to maintain a moist environment suitable for wound healing. The product aims to reduce skin irritation and usage inconvenience found in existing products by addressing both exudate management and skin protection performance. It is also designed to remain securely attached for extended periods, reducing the frequency of dressing changes and improving patient convenience and healthcare provider management efficiency.
DASON has an established distribution and sales network including major university hospitals, more than 150 clinics and hospitals nationwide, national distribution partners, and OEM partnerships. The company plans to secure supply chains for its developed products using this network and enter the domestic hospital market. It then intends to expand business into overseas markets including China and Japan, and pursue medical device regulatory approvals in each country in stages.
Byung-sun Lee, CEO of CCEI Jeju, stated, “Dasson is a company improving the technical limitations of existing wound dressings based on its experience in medical material development, medical device manufacturing, and regulatory capabilities. With this TIPS selection as a catalyst, we will continue to provide follow-on investment and commercialization support so that R&D achievements can lead to product commercialization and entry into domestic and overseas markets.”
In the BioHealth sector, funding momentum continues as medical robotics startup Medisb recently secured a 24-month, 400 million won support package from the Seoul Business Agency’s bio and medical technology commercialization program, while medical AI company Mediqstar closed a pre-Series B round from Genaxis to expand its tuberculosis diagnostic platform overseas.
